RECREATION. 



XXXI 



IN THE TWILIGHT. 



To the right, stretching far away toward 

 the North, rose a mighty bluff covered with 

 hardwood ridges, rocky ledges, steep cliffs, 

 and sloping walls. An eagle sailed in 

 broad circles near a rocky point, where for 

 years he had successfully reared his bro:d 

 To the left towered a lofty mountain, be- 

 hind it another ; homes of many wood-folk, 

 both small and great. The sly mink, slip- 

 ping noiselessly through the underbrush, the 

 cunning otter, the savage little weasel and 

 his near relative, the pine martin, together 

 with the fox and fisher, all found food and 

 shelter on their sides. 



In the foreground lay a series of low hills 

 and a lake on whose placid surface the rays 

 of the setting sun sparkled and danced from 

 ripple to ripple. A trout leaped and 

 swirled in play over a floating leaf. Three 

 tall pines, environs of many a hard fought 

 winter battle, stood like sentinels against 

 the sky, holding their outspread arms as 

 in benediction over a sea of motionless 

 green tree tops. 



■ A night heron started slowly from the 

 marshy bank, and flapped over the lake to 

 his nightly fishing. His broad wings 

 moved deliberately, his long legs were held 

 straight out behind him. Lighting on the 

 little sand beach, he walked with stately 

 tread along the shore, swinging his head 

 from side to side in search of tadpoles, 

 frogs, or fish. Finally he disappeared 

 against the dark green background of the 

 shore. 



The sun sank gently below the horizon, 

 leaving a few reflected rays to dance a little 

 longer with the merry ripples. The lapping 

 of the tiny waves against the shore was the 

 only sound to be heard save a murmur in 

 the pine tops or the quick rustle of some 

 late bird on its way to roost. The twilight 

 deepened slowly, throwing into bold relief 

 the blue of the mountains and the old 

 pines, leaving dim and undefined what, a 

 few moments before, appeared distinctly. 

 The gorgeous sun colors faded, and only 

 one bright blade of light remained. 



A doe, with spotted fawn, came tim- 

 idly to the water's edge, to drink and nibble 

 at the lily pads. They walked daintily 

 along the shore, or, venturing into the water, 

 picked out the long, juicy stems and 

 chewed them slowly. How wild, how 

 wavy, how free ! Soon they slipped quiet- 

 ly back to the protection of the friendly 

 forest. 



A twilight breeze came down from the 

 hills, whispering softly in the tops of the 

 tallest trees, moved slowly across the lake, 

 fanning its glassy surface again into the 

 tiniest ripples, climbed over the hills be- 

 yond and was gone. Then all was still. 



The shadows lengthened across the beach. 

 After the twilight came darkness, and 

 brooded the forest, lake and hills. 



C. B. Floyd, Brookline, Mass.. 



"The editor's baby was born on Sunday." 

 "And he has always been so averse to 

 Sunday supplements." — Life. 



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Pond's Extract Co. offers three prizes of $25, $15 and 

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I have long been a constant reader of 

 your valuable magazine, and consider it one 

 of the best publications in the United 

 States. All its features are good, and 

 the subjects discussed are set forth in 

 a clear and entertaining manner. I am par- 

 ticularly fond of reading the Gun and Am- 

 munition department, and am pleased to 

 notice that free discussion is allowed of 

 the various makes 'of firearms and different 

 brands of ammunition. Such discussion is 

 both instructive and entertaining, and I 

 sincerely hope to see it continued in the 

 future as it has been in the past. I con- 

 gratulate you on being able to put into the 

 hands of all true lovers of nature and field 

 sports, such a valuable publication. 



Frank Blackburn, Azusa, Cal. 



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